This rare hand-held bell push is a masterpiece by Fabergé

Key Features

Crafted of nephrite and gilded silver, this impeccable design is the work of Mikhail Perkhin

This bell push was electrified and takes a rare hand-held form

The Gilded Age marvel attests to Fabergé's legendary artistry

Item Details

Width:
2 Inches

Length:
3 1/4 Inches

Period:
19th_Century

Origin:
Russia

This magnificent electric bell push was created by the world-renowned Fabergé. The creation of the company's famed work-master Mikhail Perkhin, this exquisite piece is comprised of luxurious nephrite jade accented by gilded silver working into an intricate foliate design for the handle. Unlike most bell pushes of the time, this device would have been held in the hand to ring. This Gilded Age marvel was also wired for electricity, a significant advancement at the turn of the century. With a simple press of the push's amethyst cabochon, a buzzer would ring to alert the attention of a servant.

Many new inventions at the turn of the century were the result of the new technology, electricity, being put to use to make the lives of the wealthy both luxurious and convenient. This was most readily embodied by items such as the telephone and the bell push. Both transformed the stately homes of the aristocracy and moneyed merchant class into hubs of almost instant communication. Whereas the telephone put one in touch with those far away, the bell push put one's servants, who, in truth, could also be quite far away, within easy reach. Now, instead of tugging on a tapestry bell pull that rang in the servants' quarters, as was done for centuries, one could now push a button attached to an electrical wire on a desk or writing table. This would set off a buzzer and/or electric light downstairs, letting the servants know which room needed their assistance. Made of the finest materials by makers such as Fabergé, these marvelous devices identified their owner as both affluent and technologically progressive.